Blockchain & development

Written on 24 February 2017.

Originally developed for the protection of cryptocurrecy transactions such as the Bitcoin, the blockchain suggests a radical change in the digital economy. Through its reliability in transactions, the blockchain assures the transformation of activities which involve writing contracts and trusted third parties, such as notaries, cadastral registers, energy distribution and supply chains. Some cases of breakdown still need to be clarified, but this technology paves the way to new opportunities. OPTIC focuses primarily on measuring its ethical and social impacts such as the assessment of monetary and banking system risks, impacts on state sovereignty, the ability to support economic growth in developing countries, social responsability, and social economy.